By Edison Hatter, Meadowlands Handicapper — Early Double Analysis — April 22, 2023 —
Race 1:
1 SWEET TIMBER – He tried it first over last time out off of the layoff, but the trip didn’t work out and he made a break late in the mile as well. He’ll look to take a step forward tonight in his second start as a three-year-old.
2 CAVIART SCOTLAND – He hasn’t been able to get a lot going in those SRF Stakes races, but he did kick in :26.0 last time out and has shown a bit of improvement in his three lifetime starts so far. Draws well and finds a better spot.
3 GOLDIN GREATNESS – Finished a strong third when last seen in November in the Kindergarten Final. Showed some talent in some Stakes last season. He finds a very realistic spot tonight to start his 2023 campaign off a sharp Q.
4 SOUTHWIND SAMBUCCA – Won well last week down at Philly from the front end in his three-year-old debut. He now has three lifetime wins and may have an advantage with that extra week of fitness compared to others in this field.
5 FULL SUPPORT – He won three times last year and was seen in some Stakes events throughout the season. He draws well tonight and he looked okay in his few qualifiers leading up to this start tonight. Not without a chance in this one.
6 CAN’T SWAY ME – Hasn’t been able to get a lot going in his two starts so far this season in SRF Series legs, but finds a bit of a softer spot tonight and draws well. Will look to take a step forward in his third start off the bench tonight.
7 TIP TOP CAT – He was last seen in October in the Breeders Crown final when he finished seventh, but was beaten less than four lengths against the tops of his division. Finished off his Q sharply last week and appears ready for this one.
8 GAZOO – Won last time out against similar and has been racing in pretty good form here at the Meadowlands in his last several starts. He may not have the class of some in this field, but he does have a racing recency advantage.
9 DUVAL STREET – Kicked in :26 last week from an outside post and closed a lot of ground late off of the layoff. Has some solid back class from last season, but will have to work out a trip from the outside post again this week.
DRIVER CHOICES:
Dexter Dunn 3 Over 6
Selections: 8-3-7-9
Race 2:
1 CAN’T STOP WILL – Was placed second three starts ago at a big number in the first leg of this Series in a race that was marred by breakers, but he hasn’t been able to get too much going in the last two. Likely to be a price in this Final.
2 TALKIN’ BOUT YOU – He started at 18-1 in this Series three starts ago, but the support has come in for him since then as he has a pair of wins and a second in this Series. Will look to turn the tables on COLLECTOR S here after last week.
3 PRETTY DAME SPEEDY – He was 3-5 in the first leg of this Series, but made breaks in the first two legs. Finally stayed flat last week, but had to settle for third in the end and wasn’t really able to threaten to the top two in that one.
4 COLLECTOR S – Wow, what a career debut from this homebred last week! Qualifiers didn’t really indicate that he was going to do that on debut, but he made a move around the final turn and put away TALKIN’ BOUT YOU late.
5 KINGPIN HANOVER – He has made a break in two of the three legs of this Series, but he was able to finish second after grinding away in the outer flow for a while in the one race he stayed flat. A chance here if he can stay flat.
6 FLAMING ROADS – Hasn’t been able to get too much going in the three legs of this Series and he has been pretty well-beaten in the last three. Would need to take a big step forward to contend in this Final tonight.
7 CRAZYLAND – Raced well two back in his first start off the bench and he recovered well to finish third last time out after a brief early break. Outside post tonight in this Final, but could be the value of the race if he’s ignored.
DRIVER CHOICES: None
Selections: 4-2-7-5
